SUNDAY MERCURY WROTECauseway United maintained their title hopes with a hard fought 1-0 win over Coleshill United (cheeky buggers), the only goal of the game coming from Jack Pearlman after just seven minutes.

Match ReportYou could see why Causeway are on the fringes of the title race. They were very well organised, solid at the back, clever in midfield and two giant forwards to aim for to hold up play. They also pressed all over the pitch and gave Coleshill no time on the ball and when they went ahead on just seven minutes with the simplest of goals, it looked as if it was going to be a difficult afternoon for Town. But Coleshill dug in, started to get a foothold in the game as the first half came to an end and went on to completely dominate the second half, unfortunately they were unable to find the net.
Matt Brown had the first chance of the game with a weak header but the home side went ahead when a long ball was held up by No10 and when he rolled the ball into the path of Pearlman, the midfielder passed the ball into the net completely unchallenged. United could have increased the lead when No8 cut inside and brought a great save from Paul Hathaway with a left foot shot. Coleshill found it difficult to break down the home defence and had to rely on shots from distance from Dean Rathbone, Daniel Holgate and Leon Weller but the Causeway keeper remained untroubled. On the stroke of half time Hathaway tried to get to a through ball but was beaten to the ball by Pearlman, his poke only just going wide of the post.
Early in the second half Daniel Holgate did well to hold the ball up but his shot went wide. Holgate then fed Brown who was through on goal but for a superb tackle, then Brown's deflected shot went out for a corner as Coleshill started to dominate. The best move of the game involved Barry Fitzharris, Danny Tymon and then Chris Gumery who's shot looked to have broken the deadlock but the ball went inches past the post, then Gumery crossed for Matt Brown who should have done better with his header infront of goal. Fitzharris shot over and from a Rathbone free kick Danny Douglas had a header somehow cleared off the line but it just wouldn't come for Coleshill and they were nearly undone when United's No9 hit the foot of the post in the dying seconds.
Causeway deserved to be in front at the break but Coleshill definitely deserved something from the game with their second half performance and if they can repeat that at Long Eaton next Saturday a place in the next round of the FA Vase is a real possibility.